Ash looked up and saw the teleporting man who had saved him, shooting him another friendly smile. The man extended a hand to him.
"Get up kid."
Tucking the dagger into his pants, Ash accepted his hand and got up. He then found himself surrounded by four adults giving him curious looks like he was a math problem they were trying to solve.
"So..." the teleporter began, folding his arms. "Do you race with volcanos often or?"
"Ahem!" the Silver Man cleared his throat, stopping his friend. Ash glanced at him.
As he had suspected, the Silver Man was very handsome as well. His eyes were winter-blue and his jawline was sharper than his ice crystals.
"Are you alright?" the Silver Man asked him, his chivalric voice soothing.
"Yes," Ash nodded. "Thank you. You were unbelievable back there."
The teleporter yawned, waving a hand dramatically. "Oh, never mind me. I only saved your life."
Ash stared at him blankly. "Thank you also."
The teleporter grinned.
"Who are you?" the woman asked, her eyes glued at his face.
Ash froze. What exactly was the appropriate answer to this question? He couldn't really tell them that he was an Aspirant inside a Beast Trial. These people weren't even real.
The woman's eyes trailed down Ash's body, and once she noticed the injuries, her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh... heavens," she whispered. "You... were with the slave caravans, weren't you? You must have escaped and hid in the mountain, not expecting it to erupt."
Ash's brows raised, but he didn't dare say a word. Whatever this woman was on about, he didn't see a need to stop her.
"I see," the Silver Man spoke. "It all makes sense now. The Empire has been hunting those slavers for months. We heard reports of a caravan moving through the northern post to avoid the main roads, but we thought the cold would have turned them back."
"What's your name, kid?" the teleporter asked.
Ash glanced at him. "Ashborn."
"Ashborn?" he beamed, amused. "A moment defining name, mhm? Perhaps you were fated to climb out of a volcano."
"I am Wevard," the Silver Man said, stepping. "These are my companions: Iris—" He pointed to the red haired woman. "Adroft—" He pointed to the uninterested tall man. "And the one who rescued you, Duncan."
"We are the Heroes Party of Aldombia. We were sent here to investigate the shifting heat in the North, and put an end to the tyrant Dragon Lord."
Ash's eyes glimmered. "The Dragon Lord?"
Duncan grinned, leaning forward. "Ah, you've heard of him, haven't you? Not to worry, the Heroes are here now, and we'll stop him from purging the world with the Great Fire."
Ash lowered his head and repeated the words. "The Great Fire..."
Wevard stepped forward, catching Ash's attention. He looked up and met the sincerity in the man's eyes, making Ash's stomach churn for a different reason.
"You have no home to go back to in that volcano, and you'll be lost if we left you on your own." Wevard looked at the rest of the party, as if asking for permission before continuing.
"We are heading further North, toward the Heart of the Frost, to finish our mission. Come with us. We can protect you, feed you, and once the Dragon Lord is dealt with and the roads are clear, I give you my word as a Knight of the Realm: we will see you returned to your village."
Iris nodded eagerly, a hopeful smile breaking her strict face "We have plenty of supplies, and Adroft is a better cook than he looks. You'll be safe with us."
The promise of food was enough to sway Ash's mind.
"Okay," he rasped, his voice still rough from the sulfur. "I'll go with you."
Duncan smiled. "Attaboy! Come stay beside me!" Ash was dragged by the teleporter to his side, his hand squeezing his hurt shoulder. "I have so much to teach you!"
"Duncan, do not ruin that boy with your nonsense talks," Iris said as they journeyed on.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Iris."
Adroft sighed. "Can't we just go faster? And quieter?"
The party continued with their camaraderie while Ash, squeezed tight by Duncan's forceful hug, gaped in terror at the floating screen in front of him.
His Second Challenge had arrived.
[ Aspirant, welcome to the Second Challenge of your Beast Trial ]
[ Challenge - Mystery : One of these people is going to betray you. Find out who before it is too late ]